From sniffling, sneezing and coughing, to itchy watery eyes and throats, spring can bring misery to allergy sufferers. Here are five things you can do to minimize allergens in your home and help stave off the allergy assault.

Get carpets cleaned. Better yet, remove carpets and only have wood, vinyl or tile floors. If you must have carpeting, choose low-pile and vacuum weekly with a vacuum cleaner that has a small particle or high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter. Wash area rugs and floor mats weekly and shampoo carpets periodically.

Use an air purifier with a HEPA filter in the bedroom. A portable air purifier, when used with a HEPA filter, forces air through a fine mesh that traps harmful particles such as pollen, pet dander, dust mites and tobacco smoke. Try adjusting your air filter so that it directs clean air toward your head when you sleep.

Wash pillows, linens and comforters on high heat weekly. Once your bedding is clean, encase pillows, mattresses and box springs in dust-mite-proof covers and replace wool or feathered bedding with synthetic materials. Try keeping pets out of your bedroom as well. Washing your dog or cat once a week can also help reduce the amount of allergens in the dander they shed.

Take more Vitamin C. You should take 1,000 mgs of vitamin C two to three times a day. Emergen-C packets are great for this. Studies show that high levels of vitamin C help reduce histamine release. Histamine is the biochemical your body makes to fight off pollen, dust, pet dander and other environmental allergens.

Use a neti pot daily – Flushing pollen and dust from your nasal passages each day can help tame allergies. Follow instructions carefully and only use a saline-based solution.

Get rid of allergies for life

Oral allergy drops are a proven way to get rid of your allergies forever. An alternative to allergy shots, oral drops help desensitize your system to certain allergens and treat the causes of allergies rather than the symptoms. To see if oral allergy drops are the right option for you, set up a consultation at the Center for Integrative Medicine in Redmond (541) 504-0250 or Bend (541) 323-3358. Let us help you transition to an allergy-free life.

Our board certified doctors treat patients of all ages by integrating modern, conventional medicine and proven therapeutic methods of healing to create a holistic and personalized plan for each individual. We treat the whole person, not just the symptoms.

Our commitment is to prevent and cure disease, while improving our patient’s overall quality of life.